CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY

Front

Who is credited with developing the theory of continental drift?

Back

Alfred Wegener

Front

What does the Theory of Continental Drift state?

Back

Pangaea broke apart and the continents drifted away from each other.

Front

What evidence did Wegener use to support his theory?

Back

Continents and fossils fitting together like puzzle pieces, glacier scars, climate evidence, and mountain ranges lining up across continents.

Front

How was Wegener's theory received by other scientists at the time?

Back

They did not accept it.

Front

Why was Wegener's hypothesis not accepted?

Back

He could not explain what force was moving the continents.

Front

What is Pangaea?

Back

A supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, before the continents drifted apart.

Front

What is the main idea of continental drift?

Back

Continents are not fixed and can move over geological time.

Front

What type of evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

Back

Fossil distribution, geological similarities, and climatic evidence.

Front

What is the significance of fossil evidence in continental drift?

Back

Fossils of the same species found on different continents suggest they were once connected.

Front

What role did Harry Hess play in the study of continental drift?

Back

He proposed the theory of seafloor spreading, which provided a mechanism for continental drift.